Based in the heart of Cardiff on The Hayes at St David’s Cardiff, the 260-seat restaurant will offer sophisticated yet friendly all-day dining in a beautiful setting. As well as the main restaurant and central bar situated on the ground floor, The Ivy Cardiff features a stunning first floor bar complete with striking and colourful interiors, delicious cocktails, and a private dining space for up to 24 guests.

To mark The Ivy arriving in Cardiff, the famous Ivy Bus, embellished in green Ivy recently took to the streets of Cardiff, bringing a touch of ‘Ivy magic’ to some of Cardiff’s famous attractions, including Cardiff Castle, Cardiff City Hall and the Principality Stadium, to mark its debut in Wales.

Q&A with Joshua Butler

How do you plan on creating a memorable experience at The Ivy Cardiff?

Our aim is to offer friendly and consistent service as well as an all-encompassing menu of food, drinks and cocktails. Catering for over 260 guests across two floors, The Ivy Cardiff will offer sophisticated yet friendly all-day dining in a beautiful setting for all occasions. It’s important that every guest leaves our restaurant satisfied, and we have an amazing team to help us achieve that.

What makes The Ivy different to other restaurants in the area?

The brasserie will offer an idyllic location in the heart of Cardiff. As well as the main restaurant and central bar situated on the ground floor, the restaurant will include a stunning first floor bar complete with striking and colourful interiors, delicious cocktails and a private dining space for up to 24 guests. The Ivy Cardiff will also beautiful a stunning Tony Marklew creation on the ground floor.

Does the interior (or menu) take any local/Welsh inspiration?

The Ivy Cardiff will boast beautiful interiors, with notable features including artwork inspired by Wales and Cardiff’s history, local topography and heritage, bold and colourful prints, and comfortable leather banquettes and soft furnishings. We’ll also have a number of cocktails and ales from the local area including Tiny Rebel Brewing Co.’s “Cwtch” Red Ale and “Clwb Tropicana” IPA. Cocktails will include the likes of the Mermaid’s Dream with Brecon Botanicals Gin, lime juice, apple juice, vanilla syrup and Fever-Tree Ginger Ale, and Dragon’s Fire incorporating Absolut Citron, Manzana Verde, apple juice, lemon juice, passion fruit and fresh raspberries.

Our menus will serve modern classics, including breakfast, coffees, elevenses, weekend brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and locally inspired cocktails. We also have a dedicated weekend brunch menu as well as a vegetarian and vegan menu upon request.

Favourite dish on the menu?

My favourite dish would probably be The Ivy’s shepherd’s pie, made with slow-braised lamb leg, beef and Wookey Hole Cheddar potato mash. I also love the Chicken Milanese that features Brioche-crumbed chicken breast with a fried egg, parmesan and truffle cream sauce. It’s too hard to pick one!

What do you love about Cardiff?

I’ve lived in Cardiff for many years and know the city inside out! It’s very diverse and vibrant and I love the sense of community and the friendliness of people. I also love the culinary scene and all the parks and green spaces that surround the city. There is something for everyone!

What are you most excited about with the new restaurant?

We are incredibly excited to be opening our first restaurant in Wales and we hope that locals and visitors to the city will enjoy our all-encompassing menus whatever the occasion, as well as our locally inspired drinks menus. Essentially, we can’t wait to bring a touch of Ivy magic to Cardiff!

When will The Ivy open in Cardiff?

The restaurant will officially open to the public on Monday, 18 November and we can’t wait to welcome everyone.